An example method of partitioning turbomachine faults includes using a modeling computer to model a system, to establish a modeled gas path parameter, and to establish a modeled subsystem parameter. The method then determines a gas path condition representing a difference between an actual gas path parameter and the modeled gas path parameter. The method also determines a subsystem condition representing a difference between an actual subsystem parameter and the modeled subsystem parameter. The method diagnoses a sensor failure based on the gas path condition and the subsystem condition.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method of partitioning turbomachine faults, comprising: using a modeling computer to model a system and to establish a modeled gas path parameter and a modeled subsystem parameter; determining a gas path condition representing a difference between an actual gas path parameter and the modeled gas path parameter; determining a subsystem condition representing a difference between an actual subsystem parameter and the modeled subsystem parameter; diagnosing a sensor failure based on the gas path condition and the subsystem condition; adjusting the modeled subsystem parameter to match the actual subsystem parameter; determining a model-driven gas path parameter based on the modeled subsystem parameter; and diagnosing an actuator failure or a module performance change based on a comparison of the modeled gas path parameter and the model-driven gas path parameter.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a sensor failure is diagnosed when the gas path condition is less than or equal to an established first gas path threshold value and the subsystem condition is greater than a subsystem threshold value.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein an actuator failure is diagnosed when the gas path condition is greater than a first gas path threshold value, the subsystem condition is greater than a subsystem threshold value, and the model-driven gas path parameter is less than or equal to a second path threshold value.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a module performance change failure is diagnosed when the gas path condition is greater than a first gas path threshold value, the subsystem condition is less than or equal to a subsystem threshold value, and the model-driven gas path parameter is greater than a second gas path threshold value.
5. The method of claim 1 , including utilizing a physics-based system model to establish the modeled gas path parameter and the modeled subsystem parameter.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the actual gas path parameter comprises a measurement collected along a gas path of a turbomachine.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modeled gas path parameter and the modeled subsystem parameter are calculated using a model that is exclusively adjusted using gas turbine engine input variables.
8. A method of partitioning gas turbine engine faults, comprising: establishing, using a modeling computer, a model of a gas turbine engine; using the model to determine, using the modeling computer, a modeled gas path parameter and a modeled subsystem parameter; identifying, using the modeling computer, a fault in the gas turbine engine based on a comparison of the modeled gas path parameter to a measurement of an actual gas path parameter of the gas turbine engine and a comparison of the modeled subsystem parameter to an actual subsystem parameter from the gas turbine engine; adjusting, using the modeling computer, the modeled subsystem parameter to match the actual subsystem parameter; determining, using the modeling computer, a modeled-driven gas path parameter based on the modeled subsystem parameter; and diagnosing, using the modeling computer, an actuator failure or a module performance change based on a comparison of the modeled gas path parameter and the model-driven gas path parameter.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the fault comprises a sensor failure.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein an actuator failure is diagnosed when the gas path condition is greater than a first gas path threshold value, the subsystem condition is greater than a subsystem threshold value, and the model-driven gas path parameter is less than or equal to a second path threshold value.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein a module performance change is diagnosed when the gas path condition is greater than a first gas path threshold value, the subsystem condition is less than or equal to a subsystem threshold value, and the model-driven gas path parameter is greater than a second gas path threshold value.
12. A turbomachine fault partitioning arrangement, comprising: a modeling computer configured to establish a model of a turbomachine, the modeling computer further configured to determine a modeled gas path parameter and a modeled subsystem parameter; a controller module configured to identify a fault of the turbomachine based on a first comparison of the modeled gas path parameter to a measurement of an actual gas path parameter, and a second comparison of the modeled subsystem parameter to an actual subsystem parameter; and a controller is further configured to adjust the modeled subsystem parameter to match the actual subsystem parameter, to determine a modeled-driven gas path parameter based on the modeled subsystem parameter, and to diagnose an actuator failure or a module performance change based on a comparison of the modeled gas path parameter and the model-driven gas path parameter.
13. The turbomachine fault partitioning arrangement of claim 12 , wherein fault comprises a sensor failure.
14. The turbomachine fault partitioning arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the actual gas path parameter and the actual subsystem parameters are received from at least one sensor of the gas turbine engine.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the controller module is configured to diagnose an actuator failure when the gas path condition is greater than a first gas path threshold value, the subsystem condition is greater than a subsystem threshold value, and the model-driven gas path parameter is less than or equal to a second path threshold value.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
May 18, 2010
October 14, 2014
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